Caracterización psicosocial de deportistas y reconocimiento de la importancia del psicólogo deportivo

Abstract

Objective. To develop a psychosocial characterization of a group of athletes from the department of Huila-Colombia, and to identify their perception of the work of sports psychologists. Method. A descriptive, transversal research was conducted, in which 817 athletes (72.3% men, average age 17.26 years, [SD = 4.28]) participated. e information was obtained through an ad hoc instrument of self-reporting, validated by experts, keeping the ethical considerations of the case. Results. Signicant associations (p < 0.05) exist between the psychological and emotional factors (mainly anxiety and stress) and cognitive factors (attention, concentration, cohesion, motivation, self-condence and cohesion), with sex, surgery, current job, sports club association, participation in competitions and accompaniment with a sports psychologist as variables; even when many of the respondents do not have access to professional sports psychologists, they highlight the importance of their actions to improve performance. Conclusion. e study allows us to have a general overview of the sociodemographic conditions of athletes, as well as their psychosocial needs to be strengthened; nevertheless, more rigorous exercises must be carried out that allow establishing, not only statistical relationships between the variables reported, but also effective interventions.